November 22, 2004

contraceptives and the FDA

President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W.
David Hager to head up the Food and Drug
Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs
Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more
than two years, during which time its charter lapsed.
As a result, the Bush Administration is tasked with
filling all eleven positions with new members. This
position does not require Congressional approval. The
FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee
makes crucial decisions on matters relating to drugs
used in the practice of obstetrics, gynecology and
related specialties, including hormone therapy,
contraception, treatment for infertility, and medical
alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization
and pregnancy termination.

Dr. Hager, the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women:
Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends
biblical accounts of Chr ist healing Women with case
studies from Hager's practice. His views of
reproductive health care are far outside the
mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a
practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life"
and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried
women. In the book Dr.Hager wrote with his wife,
entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests
that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome
should seek help from reading the bible and praying.
As an editor and contributing author of "The
Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of
Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the Family,"
Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically
inaccurate assertion that the common birth control
pill is an abortifacient.

We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious
beliefs may color his assessment of technologies that
are necessary to protect women's lives for to preserve
a nd promote women's health. Hager's track record of
using religious beliefs to guide his medical
decision-making makes him a dangerous and
inappropriate candidate to serve as chair of this
committee. Critical drug public policy and research
must not be held hostage by antiabortion politics.
Members of this important panel should be appointed on
the basis of science and medicine, rather than
politics and religion. American women deserve no less.
There is something you can do.

Below is a statement to be sent to the White House,
opposing the placement of Hager.

(1) Please copy and paste (DON'T forward) the entire
email into a fresh email; then sign your name below.
After you sign, SEND THIS TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO
IS CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS.

We oppose the appointment of Dr. W. David Hager to the
FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee.
Mixing religion and medicine is unacceptable in a
policy-making position. Using the FDA to promote a
political agenda is inappropriate and seriously
threatens women's health. Members of this important
panel should be appointed on the basis of science and
medicine, rather than politics and religion. American
women deserve no less.